Connect2Complete K12 Attendance Corps

The Connect2Complete (C2C) K12 Program places both minimum time and full-time AmeriCorps members in K-12 schools across Multnomah County to work with students, school staff, and families on improving attendance and engagement for at-risk students. C2C K12 members provide hands-on, individualized support so students most at-risk of poor attendance feel seen, valued, and supported. Educational systems do not meet the needs of all students and many school systems don't have the resources necessary to connect with each student on an individual, personalized level. For students of color and low-income students, sometimes the easiest way to express their frustration and respond to a system that doesn't serve them well is to just not show up.

Chronic absenteeism is a critical indicator of disengagement and eventual drop-out. Feeling known and cared for can be a powerful motivator for students to attend school and achieve to their fullest potential. Connect2Complete K12 helps to ensure that low-income students, students of color, and all students experiencing chronic absenteeism are seen, valued, and encouraged to reconnect and ultimately graduate from school.

Connect2Complete K12 Members:

Develop interventions, activities, and programming to promote attendance and increase attachment to school for students at-risk of automatic 10-day drops due to attendance

Facilitate lunchtime, before school, after school, or out-of-school time activities to support engagement

Develop and implement marketing, media, social media or other communication strategies to raise awareness about the importance of attendance

When appropriate, conduct direct outreach to students at risk of dropping out due to attendance issues. This could include and is not limited to emails, phone calls, and home visits as well as direct engagement within the school building

Work with Attendance Corps lead member and site supervisor to identify promising practices which can inform school policy and interventions